The Music's No Good Without You

"The Music's No Good Without You"
Single by Cher
from the album Living Proof
B-side	"A Different Kind of Love Song"
Released	November 27, 2001 (Europe/Canada) August 13, 2002 (United States)
Recorded	2001
Genre	Dance-pop Euro disco
Length	4:42
Label	Warner Bros WEA
Writer(s)	Cher James Thomas Mark Taylor Paul Barry
Producer(s)	Mark Taylor James Thomas Jeff Taylor
Cher singles chronology
"Più che puoi" (2001) "The Music's No Good Without You" (2001) "Song for the Lonely" (2002) Audio sample file info · help

"The Music's No Good Without You" is a song recorded by American singer Cher for her twenty-fourth studio album, Living Proof. It was released on November 27, 2001 by Warner Bros, and WEA in Europe, while it was released in 2002 in the US.

The song reached the top 10 in many countries worldwide, expanding Cher's chart success into five decades.

Background and composition

After releasing her album Believe in 1998 and achieving significant success with its singles, particularly the lead single "Believe", Cher released her compilation, The Greatest Hits in 1999, and later released Not.com.mercial, in 2000, her first album not sold in stores but exclusively online.^[1] Later, in 2001, Cher reunited with the UK-rooted production team of Taylor and Brian Rawlings, who helmed the single "Believe" and much of the ensuing album. Cher also collaborated with Rick Nowels, British musician/producer Chicane, and Norwegian team Stargate. Cher described the album, titled Living Proof, as "a record with a notably positive lyrical tone." She further added, "[...] This had subconsciously become an album filled with love and warmth. It was a pleasant surprise, and it's certainly an appropriate time to put some positive energy out into the world."^[2]

"The Music's No Good Without You" was released as the album's first international single, on November 6, 2001.^[3] The single was also released as a double A-side single, along with "A Different Kind of Love Song", on August 13, 2002.^[4] "The Music's No Good Without You" was written by Cher, James Thomas, Mark Taylor and Paul Barry, while production was done by Taylor, with co-production by Thomas and Jeff Taylor.^[5] The song is drenched in hypnotic synth lines and computer-savvy vocal effects.^[2]

Critical reception

The song received mostly mixed reviews from music critics. Kerry L. Smith of AllMusic gave a negative review, writing that, "the lingering sense of loss and longing echoing through on tracks like 'The Music's No Good Without You' suggest that maybe Cher isn't the only one left still waiting for something truly magical to happen on this record."^[6] Tony Peregrin of PopMatters called it one of the album's imperfections, "where Cher’s voice has been manipulated to such an extent she sounds like the embodiment of a haunted extra-terrestrial, whatever that is."^[7]

Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine was more favorable, writing that, "Cher's voice is virtually unrecognizable on the French techno thumper that would have made a brave lead single here in the U.S. as well."^[8]

Chart performance

The song managed to become a top ten hit in Canada, Italy and the United Kingdom while everywhere else it became either a top twenty or a top forty hit. With a peak position of #8 in the UK Singles Chart, Cher became the only female recording artist to have top 10 hits in every decade, beginning in the 1960s (her first top 10 hit was "All I Really Want to Do" in 1965). It was Cher's 12th consecutive and 33rd overall top 40 single in the UK and the last single released until "I Hope You Find It" in 2013.

In the United States the album Living Proof was not released until February 2002 and its lead single was "Song for the Lonely". By the time "The Music's No Good Without You" along with "A Different Kind of Love Song" was released as a single in the United States, Cher was already on tour and because of this the single struggled from a lack of promotion.

"The Music's No Good Without You" was exclusively released as a club single only. The song peaked on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart at number nineteen.

Music video

Cher in the music video for "The Music's No Good Without You".

The accompanying music video for "The Music's No Good Without You" was directed by Nigel Dick, who had previously directed Cher's music videos for "Believe" and "Strong Enough". It was filmed on October 7–8, 2001, on an elaborate sound stage with a "spaced out" design at Nikken Building, in Irvine, California.^[9][10] The video follows the concept of the lyrics of the song. In the music video Cher is an outer space queen who is sad because her lover has left her. Throughout the whole video she writes a letter claiming that she knows he doesn't need her anymore. In the end she places the letter in an empty bottle and sends it floating into space. It appears that this had not been the first letter that she had sent to him because there are dozens of bottles floating in space.

A remix video was made for the "The Music's No Good Without You". The remix video was the entitled Almighty Edit and the remix used for the video was the radio edit of the Almighty mix. The video was officially released by Warner Bros. as a promo only.

In 2001 the video for "The Music's No Good Without You" was commercially released in the UK on a box set which included the video in PAL format. In the box set the song and three promotional pictures were also included.

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of all single releases of "The Music's No Good Without You".

A Different Kind of Love Song/The Music's No Good Without You US CD maxi single (9 42455-2)[11][12] "A Different Kind of Love Song" (Rosabel Attitude Vocal) "A Different Kind of Love Song" (Murk Main Mix) "A Different Kind of Love Song" (Ralph's Alternative Vox) "A Different Kind of Love Song" (Rodney Jerkins Main Mix - Faster) "A Different Kind of Love Song" (Johnny Rocks Mixshow Radio Edit) "A Different Kind of Love Song" (Lenny B's Different Kind of Club Mix) "A Different Kind of Love Song" (Craig J Classic Love Mix) "The Music's No Good Without You" (Almighty 12" Mix) "The Music's No Good Without You" (Walter Tieb Mix) US 2×12" vinyl (0-42455)[12][13] Same track listing as the US CD maxi single but without "A Different Kind of Love Song" (Lenny B's Different Kind of Club Mix). The Music's No Good Without You US 2×12" vinyl[12] A1. "The Music's No Good Without You" (Walter Taieb Mix) A2. "The Music's No Good Without You" (Warren Clarke Instrumental Mixx) B1. "The Music's No Good Without You" (Warren Clarke Club Mixx) B2. "The Music's No Good Without You" (Warren Clark Dub Mixx) US and UK 8-track promotional 12" vinyl (PRO-A-100903-A)[12][14] A1. "The Music's No Good Without You" (Almighty 12" Mix) A2. "The Music's No Good Without You" (Warren Clark Vocal) B1. "The Music's No Good Without You" (Walter Taieb Mix) B2. "The Music's No Good Without You" (edit) C1. "The Music's No Good Without You" (Warren Clark Dub) C2. "The Music's No Good Without You" (Warren Clarke Instrumental) D1. "The Music's No Good Without You" (Almighty Vocal Edit) D2. "The Music's No Good Without You" (album version)

Germany CD maxi single (0927 42432-2)[12][15] "The Music's No Good Without You" (radio edit) "The Music's No Good Without You" (full version) "Dov'è l'amore" (Emilio Estefan Jnr. Extended Mix) UK CD single 1 (0927-42500-2)[12][16] "The Music's No Good Without You" (radio edit) "Believe" (album version) "The Music's No Good Without You" (Almighty Radio Edit) "Believe" (enhanced video) UK CD single 2 (0927-42534-2)[12][17] "The Music's No Good Without You" (full radio version) "The Music's No Good Without You" (Almighty 12" Mix) "All or Nothing" (Danny Tenaglia International Mix) UK 12" vinyl (SAM00583)[12][18] A1. "The Music's No Good Without You" (Warren Clarke Club Mixx) A2. "The Music's No Good Without You" (Warren Clark Dub Mixx) B1. "The Music's No Good Without You" (Walter Taieb Mix) B2. "The Music's No Good Without You" (Warren Clarke Instrumental Mixx) Australian CD (0927425342)[12][19] "The Music's No Good Without You" (full radio version) "The Music's No Good Without You" (Almighty 12" Mix) "All or Nothing" (Danny Tenaglia International Mix)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2001–02) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[20] 23 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[21] 24 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[22] 28 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[23] 31 Canada (Canadian Singles Chart)[24] 5 Denmark Airplay (Tracklisten)[25] 12 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[26] 21 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[27] 19 France (SNEP)[28] 45 Germany (Official German Charts)[29] 27 Ireland (IRMA)[30] 25 Italy (FIMI)[31] 4 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[32] 21 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[33] 25 Norway (VG-lista)[34] 20 Poland (National Airplay Chart)[35] 6 Portugal (Portuguese Singles Chart)[36] 6 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[37] 5 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[38] 8 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[31] 8 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[39] 13 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[40] 22 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[41] 8 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[42] 19

Year-end charts Chart (2001) Position Italy (Hit Parade)[43] 76 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[44] 182 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[45] 178

References

1. Promis, Jose F. "Not.Com.mercial - Cher | Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
2. "Cher Offers 'Living Proof'". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
3. "iTunes - The Music's No Good Without You - EP by Cher". iTunes. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
4. "iTunes - A Different Kind of Love Song / The Music's No Good Without You (Maxi-Single) by Cher". iTunes. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
5. Living Proof (inlay cover). Cher. Warner Bros. Records. 2001. p. 3.
6. Smith, Kerry L. "Living Proof - Cher | Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
7. Peregrin, Tony (February 25, 2002). "Cher: Living Proof | PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
8. Cinquemani, Sal (January 21, 2002). "Cher: Living Proof | Slant Magazine". Slant Magazine. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
9. "PRODUCTIONS 2001". NigelDick.com. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
10. Roseberry, Tony (October 10, 2001). "NEW VIDEO OUT OF THIS WORLD". Cher.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2001. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
11. Cher - A Different Kind Of Love Song/The Music's No Good Without You
12. "The Music's No Good Without You Single".
13. Cher - A Different Kind Of Love Song/The Music's No Good Without You
14. Cher - The Music's No Good Without You
15. Cher - The Music's No Good Without You
16. Cher - The Music's No Good Without You
17. Cher - The Music's No Good Without You
18. Cher - The Music's No Good Without You
19. Cher - The Music's No Good Without You
20. "Australian-charts.com – Cher – The Music's No Good Without You". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
21. "Austriancharts.at – Cher – The Music's No Good Without You" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
22. "Ultratop.be – Cher – The Music's No Good Without You" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
23. "Ultratop.be – Cher – The Music's No Good Without You" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
24. "Cher Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
25. "Cher – The Music's No Good Without You Hitlisten.nu" (in Danish). Tracklisten. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
26. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
27. "Cher: The Music's No Good Without You" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
28. "Lescharts.com – Cher – The Music's No Good Without You" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
29. "Cher - Top Titel" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
30. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Music's No Good Without You". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
31. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
32. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 50, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved November 1, 2015.
33. "Dutchcharts.nl – Cher – The Music's No Good Without You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
34. "Norwegiancharts.com – Cher – The Music's No Good Without You". VG-lista. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
35. "Nielsen Music Control". Archived from the original on July 20, 2002.
36. "Top40-charts.com". Retrieved November 24, 2015.
37. "Arhiva romanian top 100". SC Vento Consultanta. Archived from the original on May 14, 2005. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
38. "Archive Chart: 2001-11-11". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
39. "Swedishcharts.com – Cher – The Music's No Good Without You". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
40. "Swisscharts.com – Cher – The Music's No Good Without You". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
41. "Cher: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
42. "Cher – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Cher. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
43. "I singoli più venduti del 2001" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
44. "Jaarlijsten 2001" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
45. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 1, 2015.

External links

• Official Cher site
• Warner official site
• Cher at the Internet Movie Database